A little satisfaction

Unfortunately work and home commitments have prevented any birding opportunity while recent wader migration has been underway. One small window opened up for 50 minutes on Wednesday lunchtime but I chose in the end not to drive 20 minutes each way to have a few minutes grabbed look at GLE when there were probably other birders already there anyway. Not really me preferred style of birding and cost me 100% on adding Whimbrel to my list but can live with that. So not got Whimbrel, Sanderling, Turnstone or Grey Plover but did get Wood Sandpiper down to less than 20m range on Sunday. So the question is which on this list is best and am I happy with the one I got ? You bet, Wood Sandpiper is the best of those five any day !

I knew if I complained enough...

Within a day of my SFYL-ing lament, I managed to add a new bird to my SFYL - only just mind you.

I arrived to a deserted GLE roadside and a wader flew in and landed - sandpiper...pale underwings...looking good.  A quick scope revealed a Wood Sandpiper which stayed for at least a minute while I phone-scoped it.  It then started raining and it flew up and over but calling frequently.

The ace GLE bird finders Stu Warren and Martin Stevens walked into view saying they reckon they'd had a Wood Sand a few minutes earlier.

Back of the net!